✨️ Holding Space ✨️

Before becoming a yoga teacher I thought that 'holding space' was another spiritual-sounding phrase that didn't really mean anything.

Over the past year it’s surprised me how much this concept matters. I wanted to share my experience for anyone interested and share some tips for fellow yoga teachers to help your students feel safe to drift off into restful bliss at the end of your practice 🌙.

Walking out of class

I didn’t realise it at the time but in my first yoga and body balance classes I'd fight so hard not to switch off during savasana. I'd wiggle my toes, open my eyes, I remember leaving just before the relaxation - it feels strange to admit that now. It felt like a waste of time. I'd enjoyed the sequence - the ‘exercise’ - and I didn't want the other bit.

Fundamentally, I didn't feel safe laid down with my eyes shut in a room full of people I didn't really know. Due to some life bits I had/have a hard time sleeping in public. I've met a load of people who have the same challenge, and I think it's important to acknowledge that experience. Ultimately, everyone should feel safe enough to wander into nidra bliss at the end of a class. I want to facilitate that 💜

Feeling safe

According to Psychology Today, ‘holding space’ means creating a safe, accepting environment where other people feel supported and heard.

While we can hold space for ourselves using some of the tips below, I think someone else taking on the responsibility can really help to encourage that feeling of safety. When we feel safe and supported, we can activate the parasympathetic nervous system—the 'rest and digest' mode—allowing our bodies to relax and heal.

In contrast, the sympathetic nervous system, often triggered by stress, keeps us in a 'fight or flight' state, which can prevent deep relaxation. People can get stuck in long periods of fight or flight through adverse life experiences and trauma. Practices like savasana are designed to shift us from this heightened state to a place of calm, promoting well-being. Too much time spent in the sympathetic nervous system can really wreak havoc on the body and mind.

A shift

It's taken a lot to break through those barriers and feel safe in a class. I experienced a mad shift during my yoga teacher training when I felt irrationally mad at someone snoring during meditation. I quite like the sound of people softly snoring, so it wasn't irritation, it was jealousy. Someone else felt safe enough to completely surrender to the rest and fall asleep, and I felt a longing for that sense of safety. I had a whole hour to explore that in my meditation, and I felt it all release at once as rain washing all the negative feelings away 🌧️. I feel really lucky to have had that experience. I slept on and off throughout the plane journey back to the UK.

This experience made me recognise that same longing exists in so many of those students laid on their mat, squinting their eyes to watch the clock, unable to rest. It made me realise how essential it is to feel secure in a shared space for genuine relaxation, and I’ve picked up tips to facilitate that rest and lead a more inclusive class.

Things I do to 'hold the space'

1. 👁️ Keeping watch

   There is a physical element to ‘holding space’. In the yurt on the retreats I'll often go by the door so I'm 'guarding' the space from possible interruptions. I think it's important that people feel safe to completely relax, and that if anyone needs anything or there are any interruptions, someone else (me) will deal with it.
   

2. 🤝Inclusive spaces

   I ensure the places I teach are welcoming and inclusive for everyone by providing clear instructions and modifications for all levels. I might not always get this right - I'm working on my hierarchical language (using words like ‘advanced’ or phrases like ‘if you can’t…) - but it's ongoing work.
   

3. 🧘Staying present

   I stay present with the class, making sure not to check off my register or look at my phone during savasana. I tend to sit up and meditate over the space. It's such a powerful part of the class for me - I never expected it to be when I started teaching.
   

4. 🌿Calming environment

   If you've come to one of my classes, you'll know that I'm not a soft-spoken yoga influencer. The start of my class can be jokey and I love to chat. However, always like to begin with a grounding meditation or breathing practice to arrive in the space, encouraging students to bring it down and leave their problems at the door. My day retreats are in the forest, which provides all sorts of calming benefits in itself. In indoor classes I’ll generally choose super calm music with nature sounds.
   

5. 👫Friendly faces

   Before I started holding meditation sessions on my retreats I worried about my accent (I'm from Leeds - you can tell). It's not a problem for me now, I love being able to be authentically myself at my job after yeaaaars of being in a desk job doing presentations like a robot. I love remembering students' names and meeting new people.

Conclusion

Holding space is more than just a concept— it’s a practice that helps us create a little sanctuary for ourselves and our students.

• As students, we can use most of these tips to make our own home spaces feel calm and secure. We can use inclusive language an self-talk to keep ourselves calm the next time we get frustrated in a pose.

• As yoga teachers, we have the unique opportunity to guide our students into deeper relaxation and self-discovery by being careful of the energy we bring to the class.

This got deep! I’ve shared some of the ways I try to hold space in my classes but I’d love to learn more from any teachers and students reading this post. Have you discovered any techniques that resonate with you?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or reach out to me directly. Thanks for reading 💜✨️